Skank Sinatra: The Name on Everybody’s Lips, at Chapel Off Chapel and touring - 60 minutes

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts-trained artiste Jens Radda, aka drag queen Skank Sinatra, sure knows how to attract attention.

With powerful and melodic vocals, energy personified, attitude to burn and deprecating humour, he sashays his way through some of Broadway’s greatest hits. 

Mind you, he doesn’t mind re-engineering a few of the lyrics and even manages a familiar tune in Danish. His mum is Danish and his father South African.

Skank Sinatra: The Name on Everybody’s Lips is a glittering, high camp show, with the cabaret diva making more costume changes than I had hot dinners this week.

He is living proof that you can’t keep a good showgirl down, for this is a production with sizzle and spark. 

He peppers the likes of Luck Be A Lady, Cabaret, Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’, As We Stumble Along and For the Gaze with irreverent banter.

Skank takes us through his rules of cabaret, showbiz and life.

Among the highlights is how he chooses to build suspense. 

He talks about the importance of resilience, which he maintains was shaped by growing up in South Africa.

He also finds time to receive instruction from the legendary Liza Minnelli, in heaven.

Audience interaction in the cabaret style seating near the stage is mandatory and, I dare say, all patrons feel engaged by Skank’s witty repartee. 

He manages to not only sing and dance, but is mighty handy on the keyboard.

That is when the instrument is not occupied by the talented Sarah Nandagopan, whom he derides relentlessly (in good humour).

While he takes a walk on the wild side, ambling through some of his life lessons, he highlights his competitive nature and his breakthroughs.

That leads to a memorable rendition of Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, a show in which he has always aspired to play Eva Perón, the First Lady of Argentina.

So, it is that Skank Sinatra brings his unfiltered, unapologetic self to bear with poise, polish and glitter, generating a liberal dose of laughter and applause.

Directed by Carly Fisher, Skank Sinatra: The Name on Everybody’s Lips is playing again at Chapel Off Chapel on 7^th February, as part of the Midsumma Festival.

He will next be seen at The Lark at Gluttony, as part of Adelaide Fringe, from 9^th to 15^th March, 2026.